Intervertebral discs play a crucial role in the stability and mobility of the spine. Their deterioration, such as loss of height or flexibility, is often associated with lower back pain. However, unlike bones or muscles, the effects of exercise on these discs remain poorly understood.<\/p>\n
A recent analysis examined the impact of different physical activities on the health of lumbar discs. The results show that running, in particular, is linked to better health of these discs. People who run regularly have discs that are more hydrated and better preserved than those who do not engage in this activity. On the other hand, other forms of exercise, such as intensive weightlifting or rowing, do not show the same benefits. Some activities, such as explosive sports or end-range movements, may even promote their wear and tear.<\/p>\n
Intervertebral discs are nourished by movements that allow the circulation of fluids and nutrients. Running, with its moderate and repetitive impacts, seems to stimulate this process without overloading them. In contrast, sports that heavily stress the spine in torsion or extreme flexion, such as weightlifting or certain martial arts, can accelerate their degradation.<\/p>\n
Medical imaging evaluation methods also reveal that continuous measurements, such as hydration analysis, are more reliable for detecting changes than traditional classifications. The latter, often based on subjective visual criteria, struggle to capture the subtle improvements brought about by exercise.<\/p>\n
This study suggests that running could be an effective way to preserve disc health, while other activities require a more nuanced approach. Future research will need to clarify the types of efforts most suitable to avoid the risks of degeneration.<\/p>\n
DOI:<\/strong> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40279-025-02336-w<\/a><\/p>\n Title:<\/strong> The Impact of Exercise on Intervertebral Disc Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis<\/p>\n Journal:<\/strong> Sports Medicine<\/p>\n Publisher:<\/strong> Springer Science and Business Media LLC<\/p>\n Authors:<\/strong> Claire L. Samanna; Patrick J. Owen; Ulrike H. Mitchell; Katja Ehrenbrusthoff; Tobias Saueressig; Eva Moreira; Nitin K. Arora; Niamh L Mundell; Jamie L Tait; Lars Donath; Vera Karner; Daniel L. Belav\u00fd<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Does Running Really Improve the Health of Intervertebral Discs? Intervertebral discs play a crucial role in the stability and mobility of the spine. Their deterioration, such as loss of height or flexibility, is often associated with lower back pain. However, unlike bones or muscles, the effects of exercise on these discs remain poorly understood. A… Continue reading Does Running Really Improve the Health of Intervertebral Discs?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themedicaltribune.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}